Whew…that title.
Let me preface: this will not be a lecture. Trust me…I struggle with low productivity too. In fact, I use these tips myself to stay focused. Some are new, some are old and others may have taken me a while to learn, but all of them have helped me in one way or another. If you find yourself scrolling down Twitter for hours laughing at memes or clicking in the never-ending list of related videos on Youtube instead of working on the tasks at hand, you might want to read this:
You probably need to re-do your to-do list
If you have too many items on your list, you can get easily overwhelmed and distracted. If possible, chop that list down a bit or section it into different parts so you can focus on tasks that need to be prioritized and work on the others afterward. This can help you do wonders!
Put your phone away
I know, it’s so easy to get stuck in those Tasty one-pot pasta cooking videos loop on Instagram but you have to look away. Turn your phone off and put it out of sight if you have to – the videos can wait!
Do non-related small tasks to get started
I know it may sound odd to spend precious time doing other tasks, but this might be at the perfect time for you to actually update your laptop or organize your workspace. Think about it – it’s better to get started on doing something than to sit there unproductive. It helps you get everything in order and it might even get the juices flowing.
It might actually be time to take a break
Don’t put off the importance of taking a break – no one is meant to work 8 hours straight all day every day without breaks. Take a little time off, you’ll feel less guilty and all around happier when tackling the work day. And maybe you just need to change the scenery to get inspired.
Think about how the tasks you’re procrastinating fits in your big picture goals
Ok, this one is huge. It’s not something you can do easily – it actually requires a sustained effort and a lot of thinking.
Ask yourself: how do these tasks fit in my long-term, overarching goals for myself?
I had to ask myself this recently. I’ve been working on a surprise announcement (more details below) for a couple weeks now and I had to keep myself motivated while I juggled the workload of my regular clientele. It got overwhelming, but I reminded myself how these tasks fit into my big picture goals. No matter how small or trivial it seemed at the time, every piece means something for my dreams.
And if you can’t think of how the work you’re doing will fit your big picture goals – maybe you need to reevaluate everything again and find out what will actually energize you.
It’s hard to not be productive after thinking of it that way, right?
With love,
Chika
P.S. That being said…I have some exciting news to share!
I’ll be hosting my FIRST EVER live workshop on Thursday, March 21 at 12PM PST!
OMG, I can’t believe I’m telling you about this, I’ve been working on it for weeks and I’m so ready to talk more. Believe me, there were times I struggled with getting through the long hours but sharing this with you now has made me more motivated than ever! Dreams really can come true – and I’m making mine a reality every day.
Did I mention it’s free? Registration will open soon.
More details will be coming soon. Be aware that spots will fill up quick so make sure to sign up as soon as it’s is live. Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know 🙂
Thank you for following #ChikasTaxTips – for every email, every comment, question, etc. I am ready to talk with YOU directly — LIVE! Are you ready?
